Salon.com > Appalachian Trail

Mark Sanford to social conservatives: “I am not worthy”

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:54:00 +0000

Recently elected South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford told a group of social conservatives in Washington today that he felt unworthy of speaking to them, given his extramarital affair a few years ago.

"I recognize the ways in which I am not worthy of offering my opinion and my perspective to you on a whole range of things due to my failures in 2009," Sanford told the crowd at Ralph Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition Road to Majority conference. "That's why when Ralph originally called and asked me to come, I originally declined."

But Sanford said that after speaking with a confidant who reminded him that he believes in "the God of second chances," Sanford said he realized that he had to speak out at any opportunity.

The crowd seemed to be on his side, giving him warm applause and refraining from any vocal protests.

It's indicative of the way Sanford has slowly reclaimed respectability and public office after an embarrassing fall from grace. And it's a message the Christians in the room could understand, with their embrace of redemption through humility and the grace of God.

National Dems attack Sanford with “Appalachian Trail” ad

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:36:00 +0000

National Democrats have waded into Mark Sanford's congressional race, launching an attack ad that references the "Appalachian Trail" and Sanford's affair during his time as governor of South Carolina.

The ad, called "A Walk," shows someone hiking through the woods, meant to signify "hiking the Appalachian Trail," or what Sanford staffers said he was doing when he disappeared from the state in 2009 and went to Argentina for an affair. Sanford "walked out on us, violated our trust, secretly used thousands of taxpayer dollars flying to Argentina and then lied about it," the ad says.

"Sanford paid the largest ethics fine in state history. Now he wants our trust again? Maybe Mark Sanford should just keep walking," it continues.

Mark Sanford ad: Everybody makes mistakes

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:16:00 +0000

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford released a new TV ad for his congressional campaign, emphasizing that everyone makes mistakes and deserves "second chances."

“I’ve experienced how none of us go through life without mistakes,” Sanford says in the ad. “But in their wake we can learn a lot about grace, a God of second chances and be the better for it. In that light, I humbly step forward and ask for your help in changing Washington.”

Watch:

Sanford left office in disgrace in 2009 after revelations that he was conducting an affair with an Argentinian woman, which came to light after he disappeared from his state. He is running for his old congressional seat, recently vacated by Republican Tim Scott after Scott was appointed to Sen. Jim DeMint's senate seat.

Mark Sanford will run for Congress

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:56:00 +0000

Last seen getting divorced from his wife and engaged to his former mistress (and inspiring a nauseating number of "Appalachian Trail" jokes), former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a Republican, will be running for Congress again.

Sanford told the National Review Online on Tuesday: "Officially we’re going to announce tomorrow, and then it’s off to the races."

The race is a special election in the state's 1st district, which will soon be vacated by Rep. Tim Scott, R, and which Sanford held for three terms from 1995-2001. Current Gov. Nikki Haley, R, tapped Scott to replace Sen. Jim DeMint, R, who left his seat to take a post at the Heritage Foundation.